the constitution provides that the assembly must sit at least
Answers
(1) The President shall from time to time summon each House of Parliament to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session.
(2) The President may from time to time —
(a) prorogue the Houses or either House;
(b) dissolve the House of the People.
Debate Summary
Article 69, Draft Constitution 1948
(1) The Houses of Parliament shall be summoned to meet twice at least in every year, and six months shall not intervene between their last sitting in one session and the date appointed for their first sitting in the next session.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this article, the President may from time to time-
(a) Summon the Houses or either House of Parliament to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit;
(b) Prorogue the Houses;
(c) Dissolve the House of the People.
Draft Article 69 (Article 85, Constitution of India, 1950) was debated on 18 May 1949. It regulated the sessions of the Parliaments, its prorogation and dissolution.
A member proposed an amendment to replace ‘six months’ to ‘three months’ in clause 1. This would ensure that the Parliament met more often and spend more time on its business. He further sought to add a proviso to clause 1 to treat the Parliament’s annual session as ‘as a continuous single annual session’.